Georgetown thumps SSU

Georgetown University's Austin Freeman goes for the loose ball against Savannah State's Jovonni Shuler in the first half of their NCAA college basketball game in Washington, Monday, Dec. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

Savannah State's head coach Horace Broadnax, second from left, and his players, from left to right, Anthony Jones (13), Raye Bailey (5) and Mark St. Fort (3) in the second half of this basketball game against Georgetown University in Washington, Monday, Dec. 8, 2008. Georgetown won the game 100-38. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

Georgetown University's Greg Monroe goes to the basket against Savannah State's Patrick Hardy in the second half of their NCAA college basketball game in Washington, Monday, Dec. 8, 2008. Georgetown won the game 100-38. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

Georgetown University's Chris Wright drives to the basket against Savannah State's Chris Linton in the second half of their NCAA college basketball game in Washington, Monday, Dec. 8, 2008. Georgetown won the game 100-38. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

WASHINGTON - Savannah State athletic director Bart Bellairs sat with three of his children one row behind the Tigers bench late in the first half, a look of disbelief on his face.

His men's basketball team missed 25 of its first 30 shots here Monday night against nationally-ranked Georgetown. The Hoyas led 57-15 at halftime and coasted to a 100-38 win before 8,013 fans at the Verizon Center.

"We came out sluggish," said SSU freshman Anthony Jones, who had nine points but missed nine of 12 shots from the field. "Of course we are embarrassed. You can't expect to lose by 60 points and not be embarrassed."

"I really think we weren't there mentally," said SSU forward Chris Linton, who missed his first seven shots from the field and finished with a team-high four turnovers.

There is some consolation for Bellairs and SSU: next season Georgetown, one of the most recognizable brands in college basketball, will play at Tiger Arena.

"That is big. That means we are moving forward in our program," Jones said.

Linton, a senior, will not be eligible for the next game against the Hoyas. But he feels he helped lay the groundwork.

"It is big for Savannah State to have a major program come to Savannah. It is going to be big," Linton said.

"It is just huge," Bellairs said of that contest.

But for now Tigers head coach and Georgetown graduate Horace Broadnax, whose team won its first four games, is left to figure out what happened Monday. SSU is now 5-4 this season and 0-4 on the road.

"It was one of those nights. We just didn't get out of the gate," said Broadnax, who shared a hug with Georgetown head coach John Thompson III at midcourt as the game ended. "I guess the last week or so we've been on an emotional roller-coaster."

"We played extremely well against Michigan, and with the exception of poor coaching, we probably could have won that game," added Broadnax, perhaps with a touch of sarcasm. "Then we came back and beat Bowling Green. Georgetown is a tremendous program. Obviously, I'm biased toward their success in the Big East, but I think they have a tremendous opportunity to be successful."

Senior guard Raye Bailey (14 points, four assists) and Rashad Hassan were the only SSU players to make at least two baskets in the first half.

The Hoyas (6-1) had a 27-10 rebound advantage at halftime and made 72.4 percent of their shots from the field before the break. SSU ended up with 16 turnovers, made just 22.8 percent of its shots and was outrebounded 46-18.

The taller and quicker Georgetown club placed five players in double figures: DaJuan Summers (14), Jessie Sapp (14), Austin Freeman (14), Greg Monroe (13) and Jason Clark (10). It was the largest margin of victory for the Hoyas since a 112-39 win over the University of the District of Columbia in December, 1989.

Players from both teams exchanged words and each team was hit with a technical after Julian Vaughn of the Hoyas came down with a rebound in the closing minutes. Bailey and Nikita Mescheriakov of the Hoyas had a verbal spat before teammates separated them. Vaughn and Bailey were whistled for technicals.

Bellairs, meanwhile, said a date has not been set for the Georgetown at SSU game next season.

"I assume it will be before the conference schedule starts. My guess is December," he said.